Governor O’Malley’s 15 Strategic Policy Goals
15. Expand Access to Substance Abuse Services by 25% by End 2012
Maryland ranks in the top one-third of states in terms of substance abuse addiction, a problem which contributes to a range of public health and safety concerns. To address these concerns, the O’Malley-Brown Administration has set this goal.
Strategies
- Expand Buprenorphine service to 2,000 individuals by the end of FY 2011;
- Maximize federal funding by redirecting payment for substance abuse outpatient care from State-funded grants to Medicaid;
- Re-engineer the existing system of care to mandate expanded access to treatment for those who need it; and
- Expand the treatment delivery system by developing a Recovery Oriented Systems of Care model in Maryland.
Read the more detailed plan to achieve this important health and safety goal...
Delivering Results
- In FY 2011 there were 639 overdose deaths compared with 787 in FY 2007.
- Preliminary 1st Quarter FY2012 data indicate an approximate 27% percent increase since FY 08 in the number of patients active in treatment on a daily basis (Average Daily Active) through expansion of services available in PAC/MA and increasing efficiencies in the existing system of care.
- Repurposed $3.1 million in State Substance Abuse funding to take advantage of the Medicaid Primary Adult Care federal match, which allows for the potential expansion of substance abuse services to 5,000 more individuals per year by 2012.
- Improved efficiencies to increase access to treatment statewide by 4,400 individuals treated this year.
- Expanded the use of Buprenorphine treatment, including training over 125 physicians to prescribe Buprenorphine for opiate addiction treatment, resulting in over 1,200 patients each month receiving Bupe treatment statewide in FY 2011 YTD.
- Deployed a mobile opiate addiction treatment van to provide enhanced substance abuse services in rural jurisdictions.
- Initiated efforts to create a Recovery Oriented System of Care model for substance abuse treatment in Maryland, focusing on long term recovery outcomes through fewer relapses and re-admissions to substance abuse treatment.
- Signed the Clean Indoor Air Act legislation to make Maryland smoke-free in most businesses, bars, and restaurants.
Progress toward delivery is monitored by the GDU, and assessed regularly at agency and cross-agency Stat meetings.
